From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Experimental Lucas mechanical windscreen wiper, discussing its features and operational challenges.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 167\5\ img212 | |
| Date | 22th June 1938 | |
| N.R.C - To Dr. [redacted] By [redacted] Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} See me Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} BY/RD.1/B.22.6.38. LUCAS MECHANICAL WINDSCREEN WIPER. Messrs. Lucas are producing a mechanical windscreen wiper, the first experimental sample of which, is now available. Considering the requirements of a wiper, they realise that the type of wiper such as Vauxhalls use, lacks the facilities for parking the blades when not in use, and they have now reached a stage when they can provide a parking position and also a clutch operation for starting and stopping the wipers by turning one knob. Owing to the effort required to operate the trip mechanism, it has been necessary to provide a knob as large as a door handle, in order to enable one to get a good grip, and this is very unsightly, so it is proposed that the matter be further looked into with a view to providing two knobs or controls, one for parking and the other for starting and stopping. The drive for the wiper is taken from the dynamo or other suitable place on the engine, and is hollow so that the Bowden Wire Control operating from the scuttle rail to stop and start, slides through the drive and engages the driving spindle. It will be realised that to operate 4 - 6 Ft. of Bowden Wire through a flexible drive requires a fair amount of turning effort, and we have suggested that they allow the driving cable to run continuously and provide the clutch at the reduction gear in the scuttle rail. -Contd- | ||